There was a time when a final rose or an Andy Cohen-hosted reunion marked the end of a reality star's run. But now, polarizing characters can continue their unscripted journeys on shows created for reality TV veterans, from franchise-specific shows ( Bachelor in Paradise, Girls Trip, Perfect Match ) Come on, come on (think House of Villains or G.I. Joe ).
But no show has captured the reality roundup formula as firmly as "Traitors."
The American competition show, based on a successful Dutch series, quickly became Peacock's No. 1 reality show after premiering last year. Now, it's back for a second season - with Bustle visiting Scotland this fall - and it's more reality-TV focused than ever. While the first version featured civilians and celebrities, the new cast is made up entirely of reality stars, athletes and public figures (including former members of the British Parliament).
Producers tell Bustle that part of this shift is to create a "level playing field." But it has the added effect of communicating to players and viewers alike that Renegades is quickly becoming a post-reality action -- and there's room for all your favorites to play it.
As with most shows in this space, contestants have an experience that shapes their on-screen arc. Villainous House , for example , introduces its cast through archival footage of a reality show, while a Special Forces military training course promises to atone for the public missteps of several of its stars. (As Tom Sandoval said on Fox, "I'm here to get punished," referring to his romance with "Vanderpump Rules" co-star Raquel Levis.) )
This is not to say that the Traitors have a pristine, simple real-life resume. But there's no fancy introductory package, so these historical details appear haphazardly, if at all. Instead, the focus is on a rivalry that is compelling in its own right.
The premise is simple: Contestants gather in a secluded Scottish castle and are secretly labeled "loyalists" or "traitors." In a series of physical and psychological tests, loyalists attempt to oust traitors and win a $250,000 prize. But if any traitor escapes suspicion, they will get the money.
It doesn’t matter where you’ve been – you’re here now, wearing a cape, tartan, and blindfold, playing a role in a beautiful castle. Being cunning earns you points, not spoils them. "This show really isn't as sinister as 'Housewives ,'" Real Housewives of Atlanta star Phaedra Parks tells Bustle. "So, I think it gives you an opportunity to show a different perspective — a more strategic side. The thinking side of who we are as human beings."
"My theory is, we've all been lying," Renegade Roundtable host Alan Cumming tells Bustle. "But we never get the chance to see people lie, know they're lying, and know they have to lie. So it's a fascinating thought, what would I do? We're all traitors in life to some degree. ”
Deception is a big part of almost any reality show, but on "Traitors," it's essential. This brings a wonderful dramatic irony to the whole show, where the point is not whether someone lied—you have to forgive them—but how exactly they lied. (Spoilers for Season 1!)
For example, if you're a traitor like Desiree Fields from Season 1, is it okay to have a true friendship with the true believer you're trying to blackmail? (She'll say yes.) Or, if you quit the game at the 11th hour, like Arie Luyendyk Jr. did in Episode 10, should you ask your castmates "Confess there's another traitor in their game"? middle? (He compromised and left them "clues" that unfortunately were not deciphered at the time.)
These decisions are difficult, but most importantly, they are not mean. Obviously, when $250,000 is on the line, feelings will be hurt and there will be a lot of insults. (As Phaedra tells Peter Weber in the season 2 trailer: "This isn't The Bachelor. And I don't have to kiss your ass for a rose.") But if the show is asking for a lot of contestants, let them be Got Sneaky Little Liar, which strives to make it easy for them in other ways.
Trishelle Cannatella, who attended the Challenge , recalls feeling "very kind" when they provided the players with wetsuits for the first mission of the season - a very basic consideration she admits, but nonetheless This is still unusual for her experience in reality TV. "We're just not used to this type of care," she said.
Producers told Bustle that the show is also absolutely "hands-off" in shaping the storyline. That’s the novelty of the genre—it can truly show humanity. Players comforted each other after one of their own team members was "murdered" (i.e. eliminated by a traitor), and in a devastating moment in Episode 3, one contestant cried when he realized he had rallied to the wrong people and went home. .
In every episode, the most heartwarming moment comes when the surviving contestants enter the castle for breakfast: confirming they weren't chased away during the night. No doubt their actors will be cheering, as if to say: You did it! We're happy to meet you. Today we all have another chance. Why can’t everyone start their day like this?
For Bling Empire's Kevin Kreider, the format is a welcome reprieve from shows like his that revolve around the cast's personal conflicts. "When you watch a reality show, especially when they're friends and they're lying and betraying you, it hurts," he said. "I mean, it definitely affected my life. But here we can live a life without these scars."
This realization underscores what Renegades is all about: giving unscripted celebrities a place to play (and make money) from their franchise bubbles. In this fantasy arena, they are uninhibited and free to be creative - and the result is not only a kinder, but also more entertaining reality show.
